“Later, my little red lily. You will have plenty of opportunity to explain yourself.”
That did not reassure me in the slightest.
Without further discussion, the five of us set off for Naara, trying to draw as little attention as possible. Now that we were hundreds of kilometers away from the Panopticon, the magic of the land once again filled our souls with aether. Mother's strength returned quickly and it took only a little time for her to set the worst of our wounds on the way to recovery.
Willow Corvus was able to fashion a cloak of wind around us that made us invisible to the unaided eye. It was actually a better spell than the illusions Shion had used to hide us before, as it bent the light around us rather than simply clouding the minds of those who came near. Even cameras and animals would be unable to see us, and the obscuring winds kept our scent from escaping the bounds of the spell.
Once we were within a few dozen meters of the city gates, we were forced to move slowly and keep away from other people, for the magical winds would be far more obvious if we were blowing up skirts and robes wherever we went.
Fortunately, the streets were all but empty at this late hour. I kept close to Rose and Yuka as we followed just behind Willow. Through the gently-swirling cloak of wind, I caught sight of the airship docks. Naara's port was predominately set up for seafaring vessels, but a small and recent addition offered a handful of docks to airships. Freighters from Fialla, the Coalition and the Aserian Confederation lined the platform.
The smallest of the seven airships currently moored belonged to the Merope family; I recognized the crest emblazoned on the vessel's fluttering pennant. Rose tapped Willow on the shoulder and pointed toward the little craft. It was a bit smaller than the smuggler airship we'd caught a ride on for the assault on the prison, and though I was no expert on these things, appeared to be designed for speed and maneuverability above all other considerations.
“Are you certain?” Willow queried. “That vessel doesn't appear to be an ordinary freight-hauler; it looks as if it were designed for combat.”
“Yeah. Dad wanted to be sure we'd have a way out, even if the Empire's forces took exception to our departure. Let's go before the port authorities realize the cargo they unloaded was a ruse.”
Willow nodded silently and continued to move slowly toward the airship dock. Anxiety crawled up my spine as we came closer, and I spotted a pair of men dressed in IPSB uniforms. Both carried short, agile swords sheathed at the small of their backs and automatic pistols holstered within easy reach at their hips. Each of the agents looked alert and attentive, their eyes scanning the streets nearest the docks with disciplined vigilance.
“Can we get past them without them noticing?” I whispered.
“They'll feel the winds—and the magic creating them—if we get too close.” Willow turned toward the rest of us. The expression on her face was unreadable, but for a split second I felt a hint of her true feelings through the resonance. “We can't take them out without alerting the port authority and locking down the docks.”
My eyes went wide. “What are you going to do?”
“Distract them so that you can reach the airship and escape.”
I shook my head. “What? No! That's a terrible idea.”
“I… I thank you for returning my will to me, Lily,” Willow murmured softly, so softly that I could barely hear it above the whistling of the magical winds. “But I cannot go with you to Fialla.”
“Why not?”
“I have a responsibility to my people—and to my family.” The necromancer's tone was filled with concern.. and guilt. Her soul whispered wordless cries of agony, and I could see images, snippets of memory as Willow thought of her family, of her comrades she led to fight against the oppressive grip of the Empire upon its people.
“It was my weakness that led them to ruin. I have to atone for that… and I have to protect my family. My choice to fight has placed them all in danger.” Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears and she looked away. “I wouldn't be able to go on if something happened to Erika.”
I opened my mouth to respond, to argue, to convince her of the folly of her course, but then felt a cool hand touch my forearm. I looked up at Mother, who gave me a sad smile and shook her head slowly.
“But Mama—”
“Shh, little red lily,” my mother murmured. She reached out and smoothed some of the tangles from my hair, having become rather disheveled in the fighting. “You, of all people, are in no position to judge Willow for risking her life to keep her family safe.”
My cheeks warmed under her gentle chastisement. “I guess not.”
“What is your plan, Lady Corvus?” Yuka asked, putting the conversation back on track. I gave her a grateful glance out of the corner of my eye and she smiled at me.
“The four of you will remain here, near the docks. I will move away some distance and cause a commotion, drawing the IPSB men toward me. Once they've scrambled to deal with the, ah, situation, you should have time to make it to the airship.”
Rose looked dubious. “That seems rather simple.”
“There's no need to complicate matters.” Willow's lips twisted into a wry little smirk and she tucked a lock of black hair behind one ear. “They won't be able to ignore my little display, trust me; even the port authority clerk should be thoroughly captivated.”
I gawked at her. “I'm not sure I even want to know what you're going to do.”
“It's best that you don't.”
I glanced at Rose and Yuka, and received nods from each of them in turn. I didn't need to look to Mother for confirmation; I could already sense her magic rising to her will. The swell of mana was so subtle I knew that nobody else would be able to detect it. It was only because I stood next to her that I was able to perceive the magic at all. The effects of Mother's spell were neither dramatic nor flashy: a simple mist began to rise as her power cautiously converted dew and moisture into a thin fog that gradually grew more and more dense over the course of a few minutes.
I glanced back at the IPSB agents standing guard. From this distance, with these humans I knew nothing of, the resonance would be of no help in determining their emotional state. Their posture didn't seem to change much, and as far as I could tell, the arrival of the fog hadn't aroused their suspicions.
“Thank you, Juno.” Willow glanced at my mother and nodded. “That'll do nicely.”
My mother offered a wry smile. “I suspected a little assistance wouldn't be unwelcome.”
“It's now or never, then.” I couldn't keep my voice from quavering as I regarded the tall, elegant woman, who still cut a dashing figure despite her torn and bloodied clothes. “Good luck… and try to stay safe.”
“I have no intention of dying,” she assured me. “We'll meet again, I'm sure of it.”
Without another word, the Corvus necromancer was gone, disappearing into one of the side streets and seeming to fade into the fog-shrouded gloom. I knew they wouldn't be able to see her until she wanted to be seen. Like Shion, Yuka and myself, Willow had a natural gift for slipping into the shadows.
Now that she was gone, our cloak of wind was rapidly dissipating. Yuka and I would have little trouble remaining out of sight so long as we kept away from the light, but Rose and Mother were far more exposed. We couldn't wait here for long, even blanketed by the mists.
I heard Rose's whisper into my ear. “What do you think she's going to do?”
“Um, probably—”
A shrill, piercing scream cut off my response.
“Seven Holy Stars,” came a terrified oath from about two blocks to the south. The air thrummed with potent magic and a vicious surge of death tore through the streets. I could hear multiple voices crying out in terror and pain.
“Gods, what is that thing?!”
“Zombie! It's a zombie!”
Unearthly snarls rose from the throat of something and I flinched reflexively. There was a loud, splintering crash, followed by more phlegmy growls. I ne
arly retched at the stench of whatever patchwork undead creature Willow had conjured.
The two IPSB agents were already moving toward the cacophony of impact and screams, their weapons drawn. In a matter of seconds, the archway leading to the airship dock was deserted.
I glanced back at Rose. “That.”
Gunfire rang out, and the undead abomination snarled in rage and pain. Indecipherable shouts were followed by more roars from Willow's pet. The smell of burning wood soon overpowered the stench of the monster, and a dim reddish glow blossomed above the buildings. Without any further exchange of words, the four of us dashed from our hiding place. Rose and Mother ducked down low as they ran, keeping beneath the roiling mass of artificial fog. Yuka and I were fortunately short enough to remain concealed even stretched at our full height.
My feet left the concrete and stone of the streets and struck the metal decking of the airship dock. Our destination was on the far side of the dock, nearly a hundred meters distant. Through the fog, I could just make out a figure standing on the vessel's top deck. They clutched a long, slender object in their hands, cradled and firmly planted against their shoulder.
We ran, but we did not go unnoticed. Lights from the observation tower snapped on and shined down onto the docks. Though the mist was thick enough to hide us in the dark, the searchlights burned through it and revealed us as we were about to reach the halfway point.
“Halt!”
I glanced at Rose and she nodded. Focusing the magic within me, I prepared to release a surge of disintegrating power that would undermine the structural integrity of the control tower. Rose would follow it up with an explosion and the whole thing would collapse.
“No, wait!” Yuka hissed, grabbing my arm. “Look!”
The figure on the airship's deck raised their long object—a rifle, I recognized as the figure loosed a torrent of high-velocity rounds at the control tower's apex. The spray of bullets tore through the searchlights, plunging the docks back into darkness.
We needed no further encouragement. I let the magic dissipate back into my soul and ran the last handful of meters, turning sharply to leap up the gangplank leading into the airship's interior hold. Yuka was right behind me, and then Mother, then Rose. The instant her feet touched the floor of the airship's cabin, the gangplank began to withdraw and the door sealed shut behind us.
A violent tremor rocked the airship and I nearly fell. Yuka reached out and steadied me, pulling me over near her to sit in one of the folding seats that lined the interior of the vessel's cabin.
“Thanks,” I managed.
Mother was already seated as well, but Rose stood, gripping a hanging strap from the ceiling as she mashed a button on a speaker-adorned panel. “We're all inside. Get us the fuck out of here before reinforcements arrive!”
A familiar voice answered, “What do you think I'm doing?”
“Shion!” I gasped.
“I told you they'd be one step ahead of us.” Rose grinned at me as she dashed for a seat next to mine. “Strap in and hold on tight—this isn't going to be a leisurely flight!”
I fumbled with my restraints for a few seconds before Yuka decided to help. She fastened the harness over my thighs, waist and shoulders, ensuring I was securely strapped in before slipping into her own. The adrenaline of all the fighting and running was starting to fade, and my heart began to thump wildly as the airship lurched up out of the dock with terrifying velocity.
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Oh, no. No, no, no.”
“Shh… calm down. Breathe in and out.” Yuka's lovely voice wafted into my ears. “I'm here, Lily. Rose is here. We're right here with you.”
The Fiallan airship cut a hard bank that sent my stomach hurtling in the opposite direction. A sickening wave of nausea descended over me. My breathing began to come faster and more shallowly as the panic took hold. Acceleration shoved me against Rose's shoulder.
“No, no, no,” I mumbled, shaking my head.
“Lily.”
Yuka's fingertips caught my chin and turned my head toward her. Soft lips pressed to mine, and that delicious tingly weakness stole over me, just as it always did when she or Rose kissed me. The panic warred with these other sensations for a moment before it began to recede. My breathing slowed and became more even as Yuka pulled away.
“Feel better?”
“Y-yeah.” The runaway thump of my heart beating was slowing down. I was probably blushing fiercely, especially since Yuka had kissed me like that in front of Mother. “Thank you. It's… not so bad now.”
Rose blew into my other ear, and a shiver ran through my body. “Don't worry. We'll keep you distracted for the whole trip if we need to.”
“Rose!” I yelped in alarm.
A snowy brow arched in query. “What?”
“Please don't!” I gestured wildly toward Mother, who was unsuccessfully attempting to stifle a fit of awkward laughter at my expense. “I mean, not in front of my mother!”
Rose and Yuka shared a knowing look before both of them burst into laughter.
Epilogue
-
Chapter 35
Homecoming
“Hi, Dad.”
Cassius Merope's smile was as wide as I'd ever seen it. He surged from behind his desk, moving with such speed as he engulfed his daughter in a crushing bear hug. Not one to be outdone, Rose returned the embrace with just as much rib-cracking force, slapping his back a few times for good measure.
Tears gathered in the elder Merope's eyes. “Thank the gods you're home safe, Rose.”
“Home, yes. Safe, I'm not so sure.” She drew back away from his arms and fixed him with a grim look. “The Empire will march on Fialla. The Antilight is… if not wiped out, at least taken off the board. There's nothing left to stop the crusade.”
“I've heard the reports,” Cassius agreed. “Over the past week I've been pulling our people back home. Those that are left have been instructed to seek refuge in the Coalition until we can arrange for their transport back to Fialla.”
“You've always been one step ahead of the competition,” Rose remarked.
“Barely, this time. IPSB has begun to clandestinely seize our assets in the Empire. Fortunately, I didn't leave them much to take, and what's left our friends in the Coalition will handle.” Cassius paused for a moment and then his eyes traveled the room, falling over Yuka and myself before settling on my mother.
Rose blinked. “Oh, I suppose I should introduce you.” She gestured toward Mother and beckoned for her to come closer. “This is Juno Alcyone, former head of House Alcyone of the Holy Solarian Empire, and—”
“Traitor to the same, fugitive from the same,” Mother finished with a wry smile. “Cassius Merope, I presume?”
Cassius regarded my mother critically for a moment before responding. “The same. Welcome to Fialla, and my apologies that your presence here has been necessitated by such… unfortunate circumstances.”
“No apologies are necessary, Lord Merope.”
He winked at her. “Cassius, if you please.”
“Very well, Cassius. I must thank you for your hospitality, and for hosting my daughter while she was here during her first visit.” Mother's expression swelled with gratitude. “It's clear that kindness and honor runs in the family.”
“You're quite welcome, though I'd be remiss if I didn't admit that it was Rose who took such good care of Lily and offered her a place to call home.”
Mother's eyebrows rose sharply. “Oh?” She turned to gaze at me knowingly, and I felt my cheeks grow warm. The faintest hint of a teasing smile played across her lips. “I suppose I should offer my thanks to her, then.”
“Mama, please!” I sputtered in protest.
Cassius came to my defense. “They've been good for each other, Lady Alcyone. I've never seen Rose happier than these past months spent with Lily at her side.” The Merope patriarch grinned and reached out to pat my head affectionately. “Lily's time in Fialla opened her heart and drew another t
o her as well.”
I glanced anxiously at Yuka, who had drifted over nearby. The bespectacled half-fey woman reached out to take my hand and squeezed it gently. It was as good a time as any to explain the situation to Mother, now that we weren't being hunted.
Yuka turned toward my mother and bowed in the Eastern style. “My name is Yukari Shimizu, a Master of the Shadow Cabal and a child of the miinari.” The corner of her mouth twitched with amusement as she regarded Mother's puzzled expression. “I apologize for the delayed introduction, but we were rather preoccupied at the time.”
“Ah, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Mother said as her eyes moved between my two partners, who had both nestled in rather close to me. “So you and Rose are both…? At the same time?” Her expression became both incredulous and bemused at once. “A-and that doesn't bother either of you or make you jealous?”
“Nope!” Rose replied cheerily.
“Not at all,” Yuka added.
Cassius stepped back and glanced back at Mother. “This sort of union is hardly unusual in these lands. I trust Rose implicitly, of course, and I can tell simply by looking that the bonds between them are strong and true.”
Mother's gaze flicked back to me. “Lily.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry. I should have taken you away from the Empire long ago,” she said after a long moment, her tone soft and regretful. “It was my own selfish desire to stay, to try and lead the family even though it was clear they held nothing but contempt for Eiri and for you. I couldn't let go, until circumstances forced my hand. I'm so sorry, little red lily. I should have cast it all aside for your sake.”
I shook my head. “Mama, it's okay.”
“No, it's not okay.” Mother took a deep breath and exhaled. Her shoulders slumped and her face seemed much more haggard than it was before. It was as if all the pride built up over the decades as a master mage of the Empire and a highborn lady had been expelled along with that breath. “I failed you and in failing you, I failed the memory of my beloved.”
Rose was there to back me up, of course. “We all make mistakes. What's important is how we handle the outcome.”
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